Commission grills Harare’s acting Human Capital Director as public hearings resume

Trust Freddy

Herald Correspondent

The Commission of Inquiry into the affairs of Harare City Council resumed public hearings today as it continues to investigate the alleged corruption and mismanagement of resources within the council.

The acting Human Capital Director, Mr Bosman Matengarufu, is currently testifying before the Commission and is expected to provide insight into the alleged irregularities at the local authority.

In May last year, President Mnangagwa appointed retired Judge, Justice Maphios Cheda, to lead the Commission in probing the operations of Harare City Council and its business units from 2017 to date.

So far, the Commission has uncovered a web of scandals at Harare City Council, including the disappearance of US$105 million and annual losses of US$70 million due to inefficient systems. A US$4,5 million loan facility allocated to Harare Quarry also vanished.

It has also emerged that 60 000 houses were not being billed, over 5 000 illegal stands were parcelled out ahead of the 2023 harmonised elections, while 350 housing cooperatives were illegally regularised.